1. Tomb Raider (1996)
Pick this game up today and you're signing up for an experience akin to running through a peat bog. It feels stiff, unresponsive, and clumsy, and gamers would have a hard time persevering beyond the first level. But it's the historical importance of this game that wins it the top spot. Tomb Raider effectively started the 3D action-adventure genre. It took the brave first steps into uncharted gaming territory, daring to create a dynamic, gorgeous 3D experience at a time when pixels still dominated the industry. Along with Super Mario 64, this game was the first to send gamers to a visually immersive 3D world. Another daring move was casting a a vivacious, strong female lead character during a period when it just wasn't the norm. Whether you think Lara was the epitome of female empowerment, or an over-sexualised object to ogle at, she became a video game icon in 1996, and the catalyst for debates about female representation in games up to this day. While the latest reboot felt derivative of similar games in the genre, the original Tomb Raider was the starting point for the genre, and for that alone it deserves top spot on this list. To enjoy playing it today however, you should make sure you're wearing your finest pair of rose-tinted glasses, but it remains an important artefact to play to get some perspective on how far the gaming medium has come, and the origins of today's action-adventure genre.
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